Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Not Addressed
Urge government to define social media companies' responsibility as publishers or platforms
Recommendation
Social media companies have often argued that they are not publishers but platforms, abdicating responsibility for the content they put online. We believe that these services, with sophisticated recommendation algorithms that directly amplify and push content to users, are not merely platforms but curators of content. As we have seen, the amplification and spread of this content can have serious, large-scale impacts. We recognise that this is a complex area of law and that defining social media companies as publishers would have major consequences, but the current situation is deeply unsatisfactory. We call on the government to set out its position on this question in its response to this report. (Conclusion, Paragraph 28)
Government Response Summary
The government thanked the committee and acknowledged the challenges of misinformation but did not set out its position on whether social media companies are publishers or platforms as requested.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The government is grateful to the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee for their report on “Social Media, Misinformation and Harmful Algorithms”. The report examines the challenges posed by social media algorithms in amplifying harmful and misleading content, and highlights the importance of upholding public safety, free expression, platform accountability, user control, and transparency in shaping the UK’s approach to online safety. We take seriously the Committee’s recommendations and acknowledge the challenges posed by misinformation on social media platforms, especially when amplified through platform business models and design. Accordingly, this response outlines a variety of legislative and non-legislative measures implemented across government to address the factors contributing to the spread of misinformation and disinformation.